AuthorTopic: What do you call yourself? (Read 5557 times)

I'm currently playing a pit orchestra gig with my Zendrum. Before the show opened, I was asked how I wanted to be credited in the program: drums, Zendrum, percussion? Something else?

I settled on Percussion, though I think next time I'll choose Zendrum, because that's what I'm playing.

It got me wondering though what others choose to title themselves as on a Zendrum gig? Do you call yourselves Zendrummers or drummers or something else entirely?

This is a topic I've pondered off and on over the last few years. I really don't play traps anymore if I can help it, and with my discovery of the cajon two years ago, I can help it more than ever. Personally I think I still consider myself a Drummer because I think in terms of drumsets, kick/snare patterns, etc. I'm curious to know what others think.

If you represented the entirety of the percussion section, then you WERE the percussion section and would be correctly billed as 'percussionist'.If you shared tasks with another percussionist (and they choose to address you individually) then it would be customary to call you out by your primary instrument (Snare, Concert Bass, Tympani, Triangle, Mallets, ...).

Of the course the Zendrum is a different beast, but I think you were right to claim 'Percussionist'. There are always some wankers that would have thought 'Zendrum' to be less dignified, and of course that think of a 'drummer' as an uncouth, inferior, sub-species of 'Percussionist'.Always take the snooty high-road, I says.

Well, when performing in Snootyville with my band Terry Lee & the G.T.'s I call myself "Wentwood Jackson Jr."- When anybody asks why I play Zendrum instead of drums I say- because I'll smell so much better on the ride home.

I have many names...The greatness, the pocket master, the guy that plays that weird thing that sounds like drums, but mainly I am called "the drummer" by 90% of the bands I sit in with. If I play congas with my kit sounds then I would say drums/percussionist. I guess it would be dependent on the situations you are playing for.

After seeing a recent review that had my instrument described as a keytar, I think that I'm going to stick with the rule that if I'm playing Zendrum for a gig, I'll have myself listed as playing Zendrum. Oy!

As everyone can attest to that plays gigs, there is no shortage of people that ask " what is that thing?" I tell them it is a Zendrum, and then inevitably, like Ricky Ricardo said, "You got some 'splainin' to do!"So I tell everyone I am a Zendrummer, and I get to play electronic drums and a full complement of percussion instruments all wrapped into one instrument. Then I demonstrate. Then they walk away either wild eyed and fascinated - or with that blank "deer in the headlights" look. Either way, I love rattlin' their cages!